Abang Johari (front row, centre), flanked by Uggah (front, sixth right) and Masing, poses with Sarawak ministers, assistant ministers and his political secretaries in a photo-call taken after the swearing-in ceremony. Among those in the picture are Asfia and Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh (front – ninth right and fourth left, respectively).
KUCHING: Thirty-two people were sworn in as political secretaries to the chief minister before Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here yesterday.
Leading the swearing-in ceremony were Abu Seman Jahwie and Kenil Jaraie from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), who were reappointed.
Others re-appointed from PBB were Faridah Osman, Buang Bolhassan, Sharkawi Suhaili, Julani Mokhtar, Victor Temenggung Angang, Romeo Christopher Tegong, Maurice Joannes Giri, Petrus Igat Mathias, Dr Richard Rapu, Charles Balan Seling, Michael Mujah Lihan and Tapah Ata.
Reappointed from Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) were Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie, Nicholas Kudi Jantai, Edwin Banta, Charles Chad Nissom and Beatrice Kedoh Tajang, while reappointed from Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) was Alexander Asing Sadai.
Teng Ung Woo, Daniel Bujal, Tan Kai, Michael Tiang and Soo Li Ching from Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) were also re-appointed as political secretaries to the chief minister.
Others reappointed were Abdul Samad Gany, Jenny Bangga, Susan Chemerai Anding and Dayang Nurfizawati Abang Abdul Karim – all from PBB.
Three new faces were appointed – Suzanne Lee Tze Ha from United People’s Party (UPP), Dr Simon Sinang Bada (PBB) and Robert Ayu (PDP).
The appointment of the 32 political secretaries will be for a period of one year, from Oct 1 this year to Sept 30 next year.
Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing, DUN Sarawak Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Public Utilities Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi,
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, assistant ministers and other dignitaries were present at the function.